2015-16 NFL Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers

The Ultimate Sports Blog's

2015-16 NFL Preview

2014-15 Record: 11-5

Last Playoff Win: 2010 AFC Championship vs. New York Jets

Last Playoff Appearance: 2014 Wildcard vs. Baltimore Ravens

Last Super Bowl Win: Super Bowl XLIII vs. Arizona Cardinals (2008)

Last Super Bowl Appearance: Super Bowl XLV vs. Green Bay Packers (2010)

Head Coach:

Mike Tomlin (82-46 all-time in Pittsburgh, 5-4 in playoffs)

Assistant Head Coach: John Mitchell

Offensive Coordinator: Todd Haley

Defensive Coordinator: Keith Butler

2014-15 Team Leaders:

Passing Yards: Ben Roethlisberger (4,952 passing yards, 67.1% completions, 32 TD's, 9 INT's, 103.3 QB rating)

Rushing Yards: Le'Veon Bell (290 attempts, 1,361 yards, 8 TD's)

Receiving Yards: Antonio Brown (129 receptions, 1,698 yards, 13 TD's)

Tackles: Lawrence Timmons (132 tackles)

Interceptions: William Gay/Brice McCain (3 interceptions)

2014-15 Team Rankings:

Passing Offense: 2nd in NFL

Rushing Offense: 16th in NFL

Points Per Game: 7th in NFL

Least Points Allowed Per Game: 18th in NFL

2015-16 Potential Starters:

Player Guide:

Purpe - Elite Starter
Blue - Above Average Starter
Green - Average Starter
Orange - Below Average Starter
Grey - Rookie
Red - Disgusting, Awful, Horrible, E.J. Manuel


Offense:

QB: Ben Roethlisberger

RB: Le'Veon Bell

WR: Antonio Brown

WR: Markus Wheaton

TE: Heath Miller

C: Maurkice Pouncey

OG: Ramon Foster

OG: David DeCastro

OT: Marcus Gilbert

OT: Kelvin Beachum


Defense:

DE: Stephon Tuitt

DE: Cameron Heyward

DT: Steve McLendon

LB: Jarvis Jones

LB: Bud Dupree

LB: Ryan Shazier

LB: Lawrence Timmons

CB: Cortez Allen

CB: William Gay

FS: Mike Mitchell

SS: Will Allen

2015-16 Schedule:

(September 10) vs. @ New England Patriots

(September 20) vs. San Francisco 49ers

(September 27) vs. @ St. Louis Rams

(October 1) vs. Baltimore Ravens

(October 12) vs. @ San Diego Chargers

(October 18) vs. Arizona Cardinals

(October 25) vs. @ Kansas City Chiefs

(November 1) vs. Cincinnati Bengals

(November 8) vs. Oakland Raiders

(November 15) vs. Cleveland Browns

(November 22) BYE WEEK

(November 29) vs. @ Seattle Seahawks

(December 6) vs. Indianapolis Colts

(December 13) vs. @ Cincinnati Bengals

(December 20) vs. Denver Broncos

(December 27) vs. @ Baltimore Ravens

(January 3) vs. @ Cleveland Browns

Final Prediction: 11-5 (5-1)


Overlook: I don't know why, but I absolutely love the Pittsburgh Steelers this year. I don't know exactly what it is about this team that's screaming "SUPER BOWL" to me, but there's something there and I'm absolutely buying into it. Could it be the presence of Ben Roethlisberger? For some reason "Big Ben" doesn't seem to get the love from NFL fans that he should. Sure, it's fun to talk about guys like Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck being "the best QB's in the league" and all that, but how come Roethlisberger doesn't seem to get that kind of love from everyone? The guy is a beast. He threw for almost 5,000 yards last season. The Steelers have never been worse than 8-8 with "Big Ben" calling the shots. The guy's got two Super Bowl rings under his belt with 3 Super Bowl appearances total and I think he might be getting ready for a fourth one....or am I getting ahead of myself a bit? Let's take a closer look at what the Steelers are offering up this season and why I think they are very much a "Super Bowl contender".

On offense, these guys are going to roll and put up some major points. The Steelers have 3 elite players at their skill positions and are among the best in the NFL at those positions. I've already touched on Roethlisberger and how underrated I think he is. If you're making a list of the top 5 QB's in the league and you don't consider putting "Big Ben" on it....well, you're an idiot. The guy is ice cold and I would take him on my NFL team any day. At running back, Le'Veon Bell took the league over last season. Even though he's suspended at the beginning of the year, I expect this guy to be just as good as he was last season, maybe even better considering his legs will be a little bit fresher when he returns to action. Things get a little more interesting when you look at the wide receiver position. Antonio Brown came alive last year and went into his own little "BEAST MODE". Look for that to continue this year. The only question with him is, how many people will he kick in the face? Hopefully the answer is closer to "45" than "0". The other wide receiver position is far from secured though. Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant will be battling all-season for the #2 WR spot (when Bryant isn't suspended that is....) and something tells me that will be incredibly fun to watch. One of those guys is going to take the "next step" this year. Who's it going to be? Elsewhere on the offense, everything is fine. The Steelers will miss Maurkice Pouncey for half the season, but should get him back in time for "crunch time". The rest of the offensive line is fine though and should help continue to make the Steelers offense an absolute juggernaut in the NFL this season. I haven't drafted my fantasy football team yet, but when I do....I'm loading it with Steelers. These guys are going to score points.

On defense, things aren't as clear for the Steelers. Well, actually, let's not beat around the bush. Pittsburgh's offense looks spectacular. Pittsburgh's defense looks "MEH". The Steelers have only one guy on this side of the ball that I would consider to be "elite" at their position (Cameron Heyward). The rest of the defense is loaded with guys that are either just decent, rookies, or guys who should probably be playing on the second-string and not with the starters. In a league that is now dominated through the air, the Steelers are going to have a looooooong season if they don't get better play out of their secondary. The Steelers allowed the 6th most passing yards against their defense in the NFL last season and if they have champagne wishes and Super Bowl dreams this year, the secondary needs to be better. Unfortunately I don't think they will. Mike Mitchell and Will Allen should both be replaced and Cortez Allen shouldn't even be playing. Who is going to step up on Pittsburgh's defense this year and make this unit a Super Bowl contender? As of right now, the only thing that's stopping me from LOVING the Steelers as a Super Bowl team this year is the defense. It's not going to be very good this year and could very well be the reason the Steelers don't make a Super Bowl appearance in February.

Judging from what I've said in this preview, I think you can gather that I love what the Steelers are offering on offense, but their defense is scaring me from making them a Super Bowl pick.  That should probably be the mindset of Steelers' fans as we head into the season. Your offense and head coach are definitely good enough to win your team another Lombardi Trophy. If the defense can improve, it wouldn't shock me at all to see Pittsburgh hoisting a 7th Super Bowl trophy this season.